The Port aux Basques Come Home Year 2010 organizing committee is compiling the list of expatriates who will receive invitations to attend next summer's events.

Those invitations are set to go our over the next few weeks, so committee chair Cathy Lomond is encouraging everyone to submit any names of family and friends to the committee to be sure they are included.

Special events coordinator Paula Harvey and Cathy Lomond, chair of the come home year organizing committee, check over the latest update to the official website of next summers event.
Natalie Musseau photo

Santa's not the only one making a list and checking it twice.

The Port aux Basques Come Home Year 2010 organizing committee is compiling the list of expatriates who will receive invitations to attend next summer's events.

Those invitations are set to go our over the next few weeks, so committee chair Cathy Lomond is encouraging everyone to submit any names of family and friends to the committee to be sure they are included.

"Everyone's got their address books out to send Christmas cards, so it's a great time to forward on any addresses of people away to the committee," said Mrs. Lomond.

Collecting all the names and information is Paula Harvey. Mrs. Harvey is working with the town as a special events coordinator until after the come home year.

So far, she's got several hundred names on the mail-out list and said more are coming in every day.

Mrs. Lomond said they put out a call for names and addresses through the committee's website and Facebook page - communication tools that hadn't yet gained their current popularity when the last come home year was held.

That's also where anyone interested can find a draft schedule of events. Not all events are confirmed yet, but a few that have been include the opening ceremonies on Thursday, July 29 at the Bruce II Sports Centre. A special invitation to expatriates now living in the Maritime provinces is being issued to attend the Across the Waves day on July 30.

The street dance will go ahead on July 31 and Aug. 1 has been designated for community reunions. Those reunions are not being planned by the come home year committee, but by local volunteers from the various areas, such as Mouse Island and Charles Street. More volunteers are needed to help with the reunions and anyone interested can contact Mrs. Harvey.

Events including the school reunions and other special events will be held throughout the following week, with dates to be announced. The events will conclude on the final Saturday with the closing ceremonies featuring the old bands night.

Mrs. Lomond said planning will kick into high gear after the holidays and more volunteers are needed for almost all subcommittees. Anyone interested can contact Mrs. Harvey at 695-2200, through the website

Special events coordinator Paula Harvey and Cathy Lomond, chair of the come home year organizing committee, check over the latest update to the official website of next summers event.
Natalie Musseau photo